Last year, Regurgitator found themselves in an unusual position.
Looking to release their fifth album, the group, formerly based in
Brisbane, were unsigned, having parted ways with their long-time
label, Warner Music.

Opting to work independently, they had an upcoming album and no
big-label resources to promote it.

They formed a partnership with Foxtel's Channel V and the "band
in a bubble" concept was born. Housed in a transparent studio in
Federation Square in Melbourne for three weeks, the Gurge recorded
a new album.

There was plenty of hype surrounding the release of Mish
Mash, with a 24-hour webcast and regular spots on Channel
V.

"That was the reason the bubble project was almost a coup, in a
way," drummer Peter Kostic says. "It was a big project and we
managed to get the money from large corporations to fund an
artistic project. It didn't cost us anything and they didn't own
the product."

Kostic and bandmates Quan Yeomans and Ben Ely found their
self-imposed incarceration far from being a pressure cooker and
rather conducive to writing. With no distractions, there wasn't
much else to do.

"It was pretty freaky from a work aspect," Kostic says. "We
found about halfway through we had to start slowing down because we
were so keen to be doing things we were ahead of schedule - we
might have ended up finishing the whole record with a week to
spare. Being scrutinised like that, you did feel you had to be
doing something."

So productive were the group, they recorded more material than
was required. Milking the project for all it's worth, they've just
released the excess material on an EP, #?*!

"We actually found we had more than we needed," Kostic says.
"[#?*!] is the stuff that didn't go on the album because
we didn't have room and didn't want to do a double album. We
decided to hold onto it and release it later, just before a
tour."

It's not the usual Regurgitator fodder, either. Sitting among
the usual fusion of pop, rock, hip-hop and electronica is an epic
30-minute ambient piece, Pillowhead Orchestra.

"We did that really late one night in the bubble ... we were all
going a bit insane," Kostic says. "It was a Friday or Saturday
night and there were a lot of people just hanging around outside.
Part of it was to just put on a weird show for them.

"I actually haven't heard the final mix of that song but I'm
sure it's going to be pretty bent. We've got some straight pop
songs on there, so it's good to have some weird stuff, as
well."

At minimal cost, the bubble project kept the Gurge in the
spotlight and spawned two releases. How do they plan to top it?

"We could redo the bubble in another city and have everything on
camera so people could watch us do a poo, I guess," Kostic says.
"Our manager is a very strange man and he suggested doing it in the
Mir space station but budget constraints might come into play
there."

Considering Mir crashed into the Pacific in March 2001, that may
not be the best idea. Regardless, you have to wonder if these
stunts overshadow the final product?

"I'm really happy with the record," Kostic says. "If I had gone
through all that and in the end come out with a record that I
wasn't personally pleased with, I would be pretty distraught.

"I guess the project can overpower the music, but I guess it's
something other people should worry about, not me."

More information Regurgitator play tomorrow
night at the Mona Vale Hotel, cnr Park Street and Barrenjoey Road,
Mona Vale, $22. The Mint Chicks support at both shows.